They bid farewell to the werewolf clan and continued on their journey. Upon entering the borders of Westdenn, they took a quick rest. As Arthur had promised, they used his wind spirits to aid them on their journey thus they reached Westdenn in less than three days of continuous traveling.
"I'll be parting ways with you today," Karina announced while everyone had settled to rest. She looked at them with a smile.
"Where are you going?" Endo can't help but ask. He enjoyed Karina's company and had considered her a friend even though she with them with a short time.
"I'm going to look for an old acquaintance but don't worry I'll come back to find you. I'll keep in touch with Arthur to check out on you once in a while." Endo had wanted to convince her but he knew that she had already made up her mind.
"Take care on your way then," Dreigh said from the side which earned him a meaningful look from Karina. "What is it?" he questioned with a frown. He felt uncomfortable whenever Karina would look at him fondness or would just look at him with a little bit of longing. Even the way she talks with him had suddenly changed, it would always become like a mother coaxing a child.
Karina shook his head, "nothing."
"Don't forget to inform me if you decide to come and see us," Arthur reminded her since she had the habit of showing up without a prior word. "I don't want you to suddenly pop out anywhere and give us a fright."
"Alright, alright I got it." She chuckled and stood up. "I'll go now, see you later then." She left and they all watched as her back disappeared behind the trees.
"Let's go." They all stood up and continued towards Westdenn. It would take them another day before they could reach the main city and this time they needed to be more careful since they are wanted criminals around Glasfale.
Every time a carriage or a group of people would pass them by, the four remnants would immediately felt tense while Arthur was more relaxed and used to this kind of life. Running around places and avoiding people had become his life thus he was calmer in this kind of situations.
"Stop fidgeting every time someone passes by. The more you act suspicious the more they would notice you. Remember that we are only a group of normal travelers." Arthur stopped and faced them, it would not help them if someone would notice that they are overly nervous and kept on looking all around them like people with paranoia.
Noting the small resting area ahead of them, Arthur signaled for them to remain calm since they needed to enter the place and wait for the people who would help them get inside Westdenn, without anyone noticing, hopefully. They quietly entered the place which was fairly empty with only a group of travelers like them who were currently eating. They chose a table in a corner and settled themselves, a person dressed in apron approached them with a smile and asked them if they wanted to order anything.
"Just give us the food you serve to your customers," Arthur answered smoothly and the person nodded. He had been used to seeing travelers who don't want to show their faces and it is better for them to just do their jobs and stay away with this kind of strangers.
----
Mr. Mazir was busy inside his study with all the documents and accounts when a sudden gust of wind blew these documents into the floor. He furrowed his eyebrows in displeasure and stood up to close the window. He then picked up the documents and rearranged them on the table.
He gave himself a coffee and once again sat down to face this mountain of documents. Ever since the disappearance of Dreigh and the other remnants the situation in Westdenn had become more tense and the division between the other remnants who managed to remain in Westdenn and non-remnants had become more apparent. Even the families and friends of the remnants could feel the pressure, especially the families of Dreigh and the remnants with him.
He rubbed his head in tiredness. Although General Argus Emrys had everything under his control but no one could predict what will happen in the future. People who despise remnants had one by one voiced their opinions and dissatisfaction which earned support from other people and even some officials of the city had also joined them but still they could not openly do anything to the remnants because of General Emrys's stand on the matter. The remnants of the city had also shown resistance to this people but still held back and continues to ignore them. But how long can this frail balance last?
Browsing through all the documents, Mr. Mazir noticed a document that does not belong to his documents. He lifted the paper and read its content only for him to be shocked and overjoyed at the same time but he quickly controlled himself and stabilized his expression in case someone was watching him. He slowly stood up and retrieved a piece of paper which he wrote something and sent it using one of his messenger birds. The message was received by one of Mr. Mazir's trusted aides who were currently on his way to Westdenn. Luckily enough they had also entered the borders of Westdenn the moment he received the message.
Dreigh and the others had waited inside the small restaurant for over four hours now. Endo had remained calm at first but grew increasingly nervous as time passes by that none of the people who were supposed to come and get them would not appear,
"Stop fidgeting!" Arthur admonished Endo and gave him a glare. They would only draw more suspicion upon them with how he can't stop looking at the door every minute.
"I'm sorry. I'm just not used to this kind of waiting, I can't help but think of negative thoughts," he was frustrated and it can show on how he acts.
"I know but we need to be patient. The message I've sent to Dreigh's uncle had already reached him and all we need to do is wait because they are the only people who could help us enter Westdenn." He had been telling them this from the beginning but it seems that they needed more assurance especially Endo.
Endo reluctantly nodded and forced himself to calm down. They waited for another hour and the sun had already started to set when the door to the restaurant opened and several men entered. Arthur watched these people and saw his wind spirit tagging along with them.
After waiting for a few minutes, he stood up and the rest followed. He first paid for the food they had eaten and left the place. They found the carriages park behind the place and entered one of the carriages. They settled themselves on one corner and waited for Mr. Mazir's men to return.
Someone entered the carriage and looked at them with a smile. "Everything's alright and complete in here." He shouted towards the others outside before he alighted and returned the cover covering the carriage's opening.
"Let's go!" the same man instructed the others with him and they proceeded to Westdenn.
The more the carriage closes in towards Westdenn the more Arthur reminded them to be calm and that they will not be okay. He was like a parent coaxing his children. Guards on the entrance of Westdenn stopped the caravan and one by one checked each carriage and found that nothing was misplaced or suspicious. The guards let the caravan enter without further inspection and it was the only time the remnants hiding inside took a relieved sigh.
"Karina's protection spell is really amazing," Endo was amazed and the others were not surprised to see this reaction from him. Everything that Karina does or say would always amaze Endo to no ends. It seems that he admires the woman and Arthur could not see any reason why he should admire Karina. He only shook his head at this man's overreaction.
The caravan reached Mr. Mazir's warehouse and his men unloaded the boxes. Mr. Mazir stood inside waiting for Dreigh and the others to alight from one of the carriages. The moment he saw the young man who had been apart from them for months now, he could not help but be overjoyed. He approached them and gave Dreigh a hug.
"Mr. Mazir, it's nice to see you again." Dreigh looked at the man who became much older than the last time he saw him.
"Yes, yes, I'm glad to see you safe and sound once again," Mr. Mazir's familiar hearty laugh echoed in place. He looked at the people with Dreigh and gave them a warm smile.
"They are my friends," Dreigh one by one introduced the people with him before Mr. Mazir invited them to his private study inside the warehouse where he usually conducts inventory of all the goods he was selling.
Hot tea and pastries were already served on the table and they gladly sat down and accepted the welcome. "I have already sent for someone to get your father. Any moment now he should be here." He looked at Dreigh.
The door opened and without any preparations, Dreigh was suddenly engulfed in warm hugs.